The amount of control required for Pilates exercise is also something that appeals to Ms Horne, and she said over time this has made her feel more confident in her body.

"Being flexible and feeling strong and well balanced is a great thing," Ms Horne.

"To be able to walk along and not worry that you're going to tumble over or reach for something or not being able to reach for something.

"They are very controlled exercises. It's not just a matter of flinging one's arms and legs with gay abandon and reaching a certain point," Ms Horne said.

Dr Marie-Louise Bird from the University of Tasmania who is studying the impact of exercise on elderly people said Pilates could be more than simply strengthening.

"One of the basic principles of Pilates is actually thinking about how you move and that movement awareness or mindfulness gives people a better understanding of where their body is in space," Dr Marie-Louise said.

"We know that from the age of about 45 our balance starts to deteriorate and we know that the exercise guidelines suggest that we should be doing some aerobic and strength training each week."

One of the keys to keep people interested in exercise according to Dr Marie-Louise was simply to remember to have fun.